Material handling hoist for pallets and the like



June 19, 1962 v F. A. BELLINGHER ETAL 3,039,810

MATERIAL HANDLING. nols'r FOR PALLETS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 28, 1960 Z9 4% I L 72k i 3 36 5 57 1 1- j g 2 s ,19 ,...|1m\|un1.....---- 1 Z 5027 4 7 1\ l/ENTOE l8 Jke-DAZELL/WhE/e Arr-021v EQ/ Unit ed States Patent 3,039,810 MATERIAL HANDLING HOIST FOR PALLETS AND THE LIKE Fred A. Bellingher, Aisip, and Martin G. Shifrer, Chicago, 111., assignors to International Harvester Company, Chicago, ILL, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 2S, 1963, Ser. No. 65,633 6 Claims. (Cl. 29482) This invention relates to a material handling device particularly suited for the hoisting of palletized loads. More specifically this invention relates to an improved material handling hoist including an improved mechanism for retaining a loaded pallet.

It is a prime object of this invention to provide an improved hoisting sling or material handling device suited for transporting palletized loads.

Another object is to provide an improved hoisting de vice for palletized loads, the said hoisting device having an improved retaining mechanism automatically operable to retain a load on the device simultaneously with the hoisting of the device.

A more specific object is to provide an improved retaining mechanism for a hoisting device for palletized loads, the said mechanism being effective immediately upon the lifting of the load with the device and being inoperable and positioned in an out-of-the-Way position when the device is in an unloaded condition.

A still more specific object is the provision of an improved material handling device including a C-shaped frame having a platform and a material retaining space, the said frame including an improved retaining mechanism which is responsive to a load carried by the device to securely retain and maintain the position of the load on the device during hoisting operations.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the description when examined in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings.

' In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an improved material handling device or sling for hoisting palletized loads, the said device being shown ready for engagement with a pallet;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational view partially in section of a portion of a material handling sling including an improved retaining mechanism in operative position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an improved hoisting member utilized in connection with a load retaining mechanism; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

A material handhng device is generally designated by the reference character 14) and comprises a C-shaped frame 11 including laterally spaced horizontally extending lower fork members 12 providing a load carrying platform. The lower fork members 12 are connected to vertical support means 13 which in turn are connected to upper horizontal laterally spaced members 14. The members 14 are substantially parallel to the forks 12 and extend longitudinally in the same direction. With the forks 12 the upper members 14 provide a load receiving and retaining space designated at 15. The vertical support means 13 are suitably connected by a transversely extending bar 16 shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1.

A load retaining mechanism is generally designated by the reference chmacter 16 as best shown in FIGURES l and 2. The load retaining mechanism 16 comprises a support 17 including a pair of laterally spaced channels 18 which are in telescoping engagement with the upper spaced members 14. The channels 18 are suitably conice nected by means of a cross-member 19 and the upper members 14 are longitudinally adjustable relative to the channels 18 by means of set screws 20 as indicated in FIGURE 2. An L-shaped retaining member 21 comprises an arm 22 having a downwardly extending hook or leg portion 23. The L-shaped retaining members 21 are suitably pivoted on cars 24 projecting upwardly from the channel-shaped members 17 and being pivoted as indi cated at 25. An L-shaped retaining member 21 is provided for each channel 18 and two of these retaining members thus are utilized. Each of the arms 22 also includes a rearwar-dly extending member 26 and a stop block 27 is provided at the forward ends of the channels 18 upon which the arms 22 rest when the arms 22 are in their operating positions as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.

A spring 28 is situated underneath each arm 22 adjacent the pivot connections 25 and is retained against lateral movement on each channel 18 by means of an upwardly extending projection 29.

The hook 30 engages an ear 31 through an opening 32, the said ear 31 being centrally positioned on the crossmember 19. The hook 30 is connected to a ring 33 suitably supported on a connector 34 which in turn is rigidly connected to a hoist member generally designated at 35. The hoist member 35 comprises a tubular casing 36 provided at one side with a slot 37 as best shown in FIGURE 3. A second hoist member in the form of a rod 38 is slidably disposed relative to the casing 36 through an opening 39, the said rod 38 including an enlarged spring retainer having an annular shoulder 41 slidable with the said rod 38. A spring 42 is disposed between the shoulder 41 and the upper end of the casing 36. One side of the shoulder 41 is provided with an eye 43 to which a cable 44 is attached, the said cable in turn having its ends secured to the extensions 26 as indicated at 43 in FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURE 1 the device 10 is in position for engaging a pallet 44 having a suitable load in the form of a box 45 carried thereon. The pallet 44 is of a conventional two-way entry type and need not be further described. Such pallets are conventional in the material handling field and are quickly handled by fork-type lift trucks or the type of hoist or material handling device 10 which is disclosed.

The present material handling device 10 is particularly adapted for hoisting pallets with a load carried thereon from one position to another. For instance, the device 10 may be utilized for storing palletized loads in the cargo holds of ships or the device may be utilized wherever the material is to be hoisted from one position to a higher position which generally may be out of the reach of the conventional fork-type lift truck. The cable 46, which is shown in FIGURE 1 attached to the hoist member or rod 38, may of course be suitably connected to a crane, winch or other hoisting device not disclosed.

In operation, the C-frame is moved laterally so that the forks 12 engage the pallet 24 in telescoping relation. While the hoist is moved in an empty position by a suitable crane or other means, the material or load retaining mechanism 16 is not in an operative position and is shown in out-of-the-way position as disclosed in FIGURE 1. The spring 42 has a predetermined tension which, in the unloaded condition of the device, prevents relative movement of the rod 38 with respect to the casing 36 and the parts are for all purposes stationary with respect to each other when the sling or device is hoisted in an empty condition for engagement with the palletized load. Thus the springs 29 retain the arms 22 in the out-of-the-way position shown. When the C-frame 11 has been engaged with the palletized load 45, the pallet 44 rests on the forks 12 and the load is within the material retaining space 15 as indicated in FIGURE 2. The cable 46 is attached to a suitable crane or hoisting means and an upward pull or tension on the cable 46 now causes the rod 38 to move upwardly relative to the casing 36 to compress the spring 42. The upper movement of the rod 38 causes upper movement of the annular shoulder 41 which tensions the cable 44 cansing the arms 22 to pivot about the pivot point 25 thereby pivoting downwardly whereupon the arms 22 engage the stop blocks 27 and the hooks 23 are projecting downwardly into the space so that the forward end of the space 15 is blocked adjacent its upper edge thereby preventing forward displacement of the load 45. Thus as long as the device is being hoisted the retaining member 21 serves to assure that the load is maintained against displacement within the space 15. When the load 45 and pallet 44 have been placed at their destination the tension on the cable 46 is, of course, released so that the C-frame can be removed and at this point the spring 42 returns to the position shown in FIGURE 3 and the springs 28 move the arms 22 back into the position shown in FIGURE 1.

Thus it is believed obvious that the retaining member automatically functions, upon hoisting of the C-frame, when a load has been placed thereon and thereby serves to retain the load in position. While the disclosure shows the forward end of the C-frame blocked by the retaining member 21, it is, of course, obvious that the sides also may be similarly safe uarded by merely positioning the arms 22 transversely of the frame.

Thus the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and an improved material handling device has been disclosed.

It must, of course, be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed or from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A material handling device comprising a frame including a pair of laterally spaced fork members adapted to be engaged with a loaded pallet for lifting the same, vertical support means, means connecting said vertical support means to said fork members, a pair of laterally spaced members connected to said vertical support means and extending substantially parallel and in the direction of said fork members in vertically spaced relation, a load retaining mechanism including a support, means adjustably connecting said support to said laterally spaced members whereby said support may be adjusted longitudinally relative to said members, a retaining member including an L-shaped arm having opposed first and second end portions, said arm being pivotally connected at a point between said end portions to said support, said arm having a downwardly extending hook element on said first end portion, first resilient means normally urging said arm upwardly whereby said hook is disposed in an out-of-theway position, hoisting means for said frame, said hoisting means including a hoist member connected to said support, a lifting element connected to said hoist member for relative vertical sliding movement, connecting means between said second end portion and said lifting element, a second resilient member disposed between said lifting member and said hoist member, said second resilient member during the empty condition of said device urging said hoist member and lifting member against relative movement whereby said hook is maintained in said out-of-the-way position, said second resilient member during a lifting tension on said lifting member during a loaded condition of said device, permitting relative vertical movement of said lifting member and hoist member whereby said connecting means moves said arm pivotally and said hook member is moved downwardly to retain a load on a pallet carried by said fork members.

2. A material handling device comprising a frame including a pair of laterally spaced fork members adapted to be engaged with a loaded pallet for lifting the same, vertical support means, means connecting said vertical support means to said fork members, a pair of laterally spaced members connected to said vertical support means and extending substantially parallel and in the direction of said fork members in vertically spaced relation, a load retaining mechanism including a support connected to said laterally spaced members, a retaining member including an L-shaped arm having opposed first and second end portions, said arm being pivotally connected at a point between said end portions to said support, said arm having a downwardly extending hook element on said first end portion, first resilient means normally urging said arm upwardly whereby said hook is disposed in an out-of-theway position, hoisting means for said frame, said hoisting means including a hoist member connected to said support, a lifting element connected to said hoist member for relative vertical sliding movement, connecting means between said second end portion and said lifting element, a second resilient member disposed between said lifting member and said hoist member, said second resilient member during the empty condition of said device urging said hoist member and lifting member against relative movement whereby said hook is maintained in said out-of-theway position, said second resilient member during a lifting tension on said lifting member during a loaded condition of said device, permitting relative vertical movement of said lifting member and hoist member whereby said connecting means moves said arm pivotally and said hook member is moved downwardly to retain a load on a pallet carried by said fork members.

3. A material handling device comprising a frame including a pair of laterally spaced fork members adapted to be engaged with a loaded pallet for lifting the same, vertical support means, means connecting said vertical support means to said fork members, a load retaining mechanism including a support connected to said vertical support means, a retaining member including an L-shaped arm having opposed first and second end portions, said arm being pivotally connected at a point between said end portions to said support, said arm having a downwardly extending hook element on said first end portion, first resilient means normally urging said arm upwardly whereby said hook is disposed in an out-of-the-way position, hoisting means for said frame, said hoisting means includ ing a hoist member connected to said support, a lifting element connected to said hoist member for relative vertical sliding movement, connecting means between said second end portion and said lifting element, a second resilient member disposed between said lifting member and said hoist member, said second resilient member during the empty condition of said device urging said hoist member and lifting member against relative movement whereby said hook is maintained in said out-of-the-Way position, said second resilient member during a lifting tension on said lifting member during a loaded condition of said device, permitting relative vertical movement of said lifting member and hoist member whereby said connecting means moves said arm pivotally and said hook member is moved downwardly to retain a load on a pallet carried by said fork members.

4. A material handling device comprising a C-shaped frame having upper and lower generally horizontally extending members, the lower member providing a lifting platform, and a load receiving space between said upper and lower members, a load retaining member on said frame, said retaining member including an L-shaped arm having opposed first and second end portions, said arm being pivotally connected at a point between said end porand said first portion of said arm, a spring connecting said hoist members and normally restraining relative movement of said hoist members during an unloaded hoisted position of said device, said first hoist member being relatively movable in a vertical direction relative to said second hoist member during a hoisted load carrying position of said device, whereby said connecting element moves said arm to a position wherein said hook portion is in a load retaining position within said load receiving space.

5. A materal handling device comprising a C-shaped frame having upper and lower generally horizontally extending members, the lower member providing a lifting platform, and a load receiving space between said upper and lower members, a load retaining member on said frame, said retaining member including an L-shaped arm having opposed first and second end portions and being pivotally connected at a point between said end portions to said upper member above said space, said second portion having a hook portion normally positioned above said space, a hoisting means comprising a first hoist member connected to said frame, a second hoist member slidingly connected to said first hoist member and being adapted to be moved vertically relative to said first hoist member, a connecting element connected to said second hoist member and said second portion, a spring connecting said hoist members and normally restraining relative movement of said hoist members during an unloaded hoisted position of said device, said first hoist member being relatively movable in a vertical direction relative to said second hoist member during a hoisted load carrying position of said device, whereby said connecting element moves said arm to a position wherein said hook portion is in a load retaining position within said load receiving space.

6. A material handling device comprising a C-shaped frame having upper and lower generally horizontally extending members, the lower member providing a lifting platform, and a load receiving space between said upper and lower members, a load retaining member on said frame, said retaining member including an arm having first and second end portions and being pivotally connected between said end portion to said upper member above said space, said second end portion having a hook portion normally positioned above said space, a hoisting means comprising a first hoist member connected to said frame, a second hoist member movably connected to said first hoist member and being adapted to be moved relative to said first hoist member, a connecting element connected to said second hoist member and said second portion, a spring connecting said hoist members and normally restraining relative movement of said hoist members during an unloaded hoisted position of said device, said first hoist member being relatively movable relative to said second hoist member during a hoisted load carrying position of said device, whereby said connecting element moves said arm to a position wherein said hook portion is in a load retaining position within said load receving space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,439,227 Cochran Dec. 19, 1922 1,753,578 Raymond Apr. 8, 1930 2,599,855 Michaux June 10, 1952 2,613,829 Gault Oct. 14, 1952 

